Torpedo steering system



Dec. 22, 1964 H. H. HAMLIN ETAL TORPEDO STEERING SYSTEM Original FiledJuly 16, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

INVENTORS HALLEY H. HAMLIN ALFRED L.W.W|LLIAMS ATTORN EY Dec. 22, 1964H. H. HAMLIN ETAL 3,162,162

TORPEDO STEERING SYSTEM Original Filed July 16, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS HALLEY HIHAMLIN 0 ALFRED L.W.WILLIAMS FIG .5 U? 2.4;

ATT'oRNEY Dec. 22, 1964 H. H. HAMLIN ETAL TORPEDO STEERING SYSTEMOriginal Filed July 16, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IEIEI' ///1;'////// 11%INVENTORS HALLEY H. HAMLIN ALFRED L.W.W|LLIAMS ATTORNEY United StatesPatent (I) 3,162,162 TORPEDQ STEERING SYSTEM Halley H. Hamlin,Lyndhurst, and Alfred L. W. Williams, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors toClevite Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Continuation of applicationSer. No. 827,663, July 16, 1959. This application Aug. 6, 1962, Ser. No.214,879

7 Claims. (Cl. 114-43) The instant application is a continuation of ourprevious application Serial Number 827,663 filed July 16, 1959, assignedto the same assignee and now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to torpedoes and more particularly,concerns the steering system thereof.

It is recognized that the steering surfaces of conventional torpedoesoperate in an area of highly disturbed cavitational water flow. The unitarea efiiciency of such steering surfaces is therefore rather low. Thetotal steering surface that is required is so large that the rudders andelevators must extend beyond the outside diameter of the main torpedobody. Such a construction of the rudders and elevators has numerousdisadvantages, for instance in that these structures interfere with thenormal diameter of the launching tubes so that these tubes must beespecially adapted which results in a loss of space and a gain inweight. These factors are, of course, prime considerations in submarinetorpedo launching equipment.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a steering shroudwhich encircles the torpedo body and operates in an area of undisturbedwater flow to improve the effectiveness of the steering surfaces perunit area thereby enabling a reduction in the total steering surface.

It is another object of this invention to provide a steering system inwhich a steering shroud encircling the torpedo body has an outsidediameter not greater than the outside diameter of the main torpedo bodywhereby disadvantages inherent in devices of the prior art areeliminated.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device in which thetorpedo steering control surface areas are materially reduced comparedto comparable conventional torpedoes, with the result that drag andwater entry factors are appreciably improved.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a uniquehydraulic system to actuate the steering control surfaces.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand further objects thereof, reference is had to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: 7

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the torpedo;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the tail end of the torpedo with portionsbroken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged end view of the torpedo and particularly of thesteeiing shroud and the actuating system connected thereto;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the steering shroud taken alongline 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, view of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal View in lenoid mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE'Z illustrating a modified device;and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, view of FIG- An aspect of thepresent invention resides in the prosection of the sovision of a torpedohaving an elongated body with a tapered tail end and includes an annularshroud member 3,162,162 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 encircling the tail endin uniform spaced relationship. The shroud member has an outsidediameter not greater than the outside diameter of the elongated body,and at leastportions of the shroud member are angularly movable relativeto the central axis of said body. A support member is provided betweenthe body and the shroud member, and an actuating member is locatedwithin the body engaging the shroud member for angularly moving at leastportions of the shroud member. Q

1 7 Another aspect of the present invention resides in the provisionofan actuating mechanism for a fixed volume hydraulic circuit whichincludes a tubular sleeve member having a central passageway, one end ofthe sleeve memher being connectable to the circuit. A solenoid coilencircles the sleeve member, and an end member is sealingly connected tothe coil adjacent to the other end of the sleeve member. A magneticallyresponsive plunger is disposed Within the passageway and is movablebetween the end member and approximately the axial center of the coil inresponse to energization of the coil. A piston body is located withinthe passageway and engages the plunger. A spring is operably positionedwithin the sleeve member between the circuit and the piston, said springbiases the piston'against the plunger to force the plungernormallyagainst the end member. The piston has a fluid conduit therethrough'influid communication ing a tapered tail'end. A shroud ring 12 encirclesthe tail end in uniform spaced relationship and is secured to the bodyby four connecting chords 50. The shroud ring 12 has an outside diameternot greater than the outside diameter of the elongated torpedo body 10and four equidistantly spaced movable control surfaces 19, 20, 22 and 24are. arranged in circular array along the trailing edge 16 and disposedin recesses 14, formed in the ring 12. These control surfaces are ofsimilar construction and are identified and hereafter referred to byreference character 18. The surfaces 18 are pivotably mounted in therecesses 14, and the contourof the surfaces is such that when they arein normal position the surfaces are flush with the ring 12v andestablish a substantially continuous and streamlined surface.

A pair of pivots 27 secures the surfaces 18 to thering, as above noted,to permit angular movement of the eontrol surfaces relative to thecentral axis of the torpedo body. A set screw 40 mounted in each controlsurface, see FIGURE 5, .adjustably limits the freedom'of angularmovement thereof.

The control surfaces 18 are operated by a magnetohydraulic actuatingsystem which includes a solenoid mechanism 58 located in the main body10 of the torpedo, and a hydraulic conduit system connecting thesolenoid with the control surface's'18. I 1

Referring now to FIGURE 6, there is shown a solenoid coated with asuitable varnish; a right end wall64 suitably mounted to the housing 60;an intermediate partition wall 61 enclosing the left end side of thehousing '60 and partly press fitted thereinto; and a left end wall 62contiguous to I r intermediate wall 61 and having a plurality ofcountersunk bores 67 extending parallel with the central axis'of thehousing 60. A machin'escrew 68 in each bore 671* serves todetachablyconnect wall 62' to the intermediate fpartitionwall'ol.

Within the tubular housing 60 there is disposed a hollow cylindricalwinding constituting a solenoid member 70. The central opening of member70 is lined with a suitable insulating material 71, such as varnishedcambn'c oil insulation cloth glued in place with a suitable cement.

The mechanism 58 has a central passageway 72 formed by a centralaperture 65 in wall 64, the central opening formed by the solenoidmember 70, a central aperture 66 in intermediate wall 61, and centralbore 69 in wall 62, all of which are axially aligned; the passageway 72terminates on the one end with abutment 63 of left end wall 62.

A tubular sleeve 74 is suitably disposed within the passageway 72, oneend of the sleeve is externally threaded and extends through centralaperture 65 and connects to a pipe adapter 86; to hold the sleeve inadjustable position a hexagon nut 85 is threadedly mounted above sleeve74 and abuts end wall 64. The sleeve has one end 77 formed as theinverse of a frustum of a right circular cone. This end is locatedproximate to the axial center of the solenoid member 70. An elongatedplunger 80 is slidably disposed within passageway 72, the plunger has aconfiguration which is complementary to end 77 of sleeve 74.

A reciprocable piston 90 and a compression spring 96 are carried end toend within the tubular sleeve 74. The piston 90 is, generally,cylindrically shaped and provides a T-shaped fluid conduit system 93,including conduit 94 extending coaxially with passageway 72 andconnecting with a radially extending conduit 95. The piston has anannular recess to seat an O ring 97 which sealingly engages internalsurfaces of the sleeve 74 as shown. An annular recess at the other endof the piston provides a shoulder 92 to seat the spring 96. The springbiases the piston in the direction of the end wall 62 to engage plunger80 and the other end of the spring reacts against an internal shoulder89, of opening 88, in pipe adapter 86.

One solenoid actuating mechanism 58 is connected to each control surface19, 20, 22 and 24 by means of a piping system 100 which contains asuitable hydraulic fluid. One end of the piping system connects to thethreaded male portion 87 of piper adapter 86, see FIG- URE 6, and theopposite end of the piping connects to a pipe adapter 102 secured inchord 50, see FIGURE 2.

A fluid conduit 101 provided in each chord 50 connects to adapter 102and terminates at opposite end, see FIG- URE 5, contiguous to a smallchamber 105 formed Within chord 50 in which a piston 104 is slidablydisposed. The piston is in direct contact with the fluid in conduit 101while the front end 106 of the piston 104 engages a control surface at apoint located opposite the trailing edge 16.

To confine the fluid in the conduit 101, a rubber O ring 110 is placedaround the piston 104; the O ring is suitably seated in an annularrecess 52 in chord 50 to permit the ring 110 to slide on the piston 104when the piston moves back and forth within the chamber. To prevent seawater from entering into chamber 105 and ultimately into conduit 101,the piston extends coaxially through an annular brass bushing 114threadedly secured in chord 50 proximate to the water exposed area 55 ofthe chord. The bushing 114 has a close but sliding fit around piston 104and an annular groove in the bushing is adapted to receive an O ring 116to sealingly surround the piston 104.

The sequence of operation is as follows: When the solenoid 70 isenergized, the plunger 80 is electromagnetically attracted and overcomesopposing spring 96 and begins to move toward the center of the magneticfielddisplacing the piston 90 until the front end of the plunger abutsfrusto-conical portion 77 of sleeve 74. While the plunger and the pistonare in the process of moving toward the center of the electromagneticfield, the fluid within the passageway 72 is forced into the pipingsystem 100 until that system is completely filled. Excess of any fluidin the piping system 100 can escape through conduit 93 into thepassageway 72 until the conduit 94 moves past the end portion 77 ofsleeve 74 and thereafter sealingly engages the sleeve whereby the portopenings of conduit 94 are closed. The O ring 97 peripherallysurrounding the piston 90 serves to prevent any liquid intercourse. Thisarrangement establishes a substantially fixed volume fluid system sothat a linear displacement of the fluid within the system can takeplace. Thus, as the plunger moves on, a column of fluid is displaced andmoved toward one of the control surfaces 18 to displace piston 104 inchord 50. The piston 104, in turn, engages one of the control surfaces,and angularly moves the control surface relative to the central axis ofthe shroud ring 12 about pivots 27. FIGURE 5 outlines the extent of thismovement and also indicates that when the piston 104 engages the controlsurface, upon energization of the solenoid, the trailing edge of thesurface points somewhat toward the center of the device for reasonswhich will hereafter become more apparent.

When the solenoid is de-energized, the spring 96 causes the piston tomove the plunger 80 toward end wall 62 until the plunger abuts the wall.The fluid can now escape into passageway 72 thus creating a partialvacuum in the piping system and causing the piston 104 to be slightlyretracted and removed out of contact with the control surface so thatthe control surface is freely pivotable and the position of the controlsurface can be dictated by the flow of the water passing on both sides23, 25 of the shroud ring 12 as shown in FIGURE 5. This establishes adynamically efiicient torpedo surface.

It should be noted that when the trailing edge 16 of the controlsurface, e.g., 19, is moved inwardly about the pivots 27, and usingFIGURE 3 as a point of reference, a high lift area above the shroud iscreated which urges the tail end of the torpedo into a relative upwardposition and the nose of the torpedo is urged downward. This causes thetorpedo to move downward at a predetermined angular rate of turn to thehorizontal plane. When the aforementioned conditions are applied to thebottom control surface, e.g., 20, the reaction is oppositely similar.Thus, when the trailing edge of the control surface 20 is urgedinwardly, a high lift area is created below that section of the torpedoand the tail end is urged downward and the nose section of the torpedois biased into an upward position. Corresponding reactions areexperienced by the operation of the left side control surface 22, or theright side control surface 24, as they are arranged in FIGURE 3.

When the device is to be operated substantially above or belowatmospheric pressures, a pressure balancing means for the system isrequired. A resilient pressure equalizing diaphragm may be suitablyprovided, not shown, one side thereof is exposed to the fluid medium andan opposite end thereof is so interconnected with the piping system tocompensate for the pressure differentials.

FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings show a shroud steering system generallysimilar to the one illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 6.

In this modification the total perimeter of the shroud ring 120 isutilized as a movable control surface. The shround ring 120 is disposedabout a shaft 122 in a manner to provide a universal swiveling action.The angular movement of the shroud 120 is established by theelectromagnetic hydraulic actuating system aforedescribed.

More particularly, the shroud ring has an inner and an outer annularrace 126, concentrically disposed in spaced relation and connected byradially extending chords 124 between the races. The outer race 130constitutes the steering control surface. The inner race 126 is mountedto the main shaft 122 of the torpedo device by means of a swivel bearing128 coaxially interposed between the inner surface 127 of race 126 andthe shaft 122. The inner surface 127 has a substantially concave contourand bearing 128 has a complementary coroperating outer surface of aconvex curvature to enable swivel action between stationary swivelbearing 128 and movable shroud 120 about their common axis.

The inner race 126 is formed with two recesses 129 equidistantlyarranged, the circumferential length thereof approximating the axialwidth of the bearing 128 to facilitate insertion and removal of thehearing. The recesses extend, approximately, from the axial center ofthe inner race 126 to the outer edge thereof, andthe depth of therecesses is such that the maximum diameter between the recessessubstantially equalsthe maximum diameter of the bearing with thegreatest depth in the recesses being located at a point proximate to thesmallest inside diameter of the inner race 126.

A piston 104' disposed in the main torpedo body, in a fashion similar topiston 104 in chord 50, has a rod extension 131 ending with a swivelball 132. The inner race 126 is formed with a plurality oflongitudinally extending bores 133 of varying diameter adapted toreceive the rod 131. The rod and ball are inserted through largerdiameter bore 134 against which ball 132 abuts. A set screw 138 in bore134 prevents forward movement of the piston assembly 104.

A resilient but normally spaced relationship is maintained between theshroud 120 and the main body of the torpedo by a retainer member 140having a shoulder 145 securely seated in torpedo body 10 coaxial withrod 131, the rod extending through center aperture 142 of member 140 anda helical coil compression spring 146 coaxially mounted about rod 131engages the retainer 140 on one end and the other end of the springengages the shroud 120 and is operably confined in an annular recess 148of the shroud.

Preferably a plurality of actuating pistons 104', each connected to asolenoid mechanism 58, are disposed in circular array around and inoperable engagement with shroud 120. Four pistons 104' spaced 90 apartwill transmit a satisfactory response.

In operation, upon energization of the solenoid 70 the shroud 120 isangularly moved by the axial motion of the piston assembly 104', theprecision and variability of angular displacement being limited only bythe number of actuating components acting upon the shroud ring.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be thepreferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore,aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modificationsas fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a torpedo having an elongated body with a tapered tail endcomprising: annular shroud means encircling the tail end in uniformspaced relationship, said shroud means having an outside diameter notgreater than the outside diameter of the elongated body, said shroudmeans including a plurality of steering control surfaces movably mountedalong the trailing edge of said annular shroud means and being normallysubstantially flush therewith, said control surfaces being angularlymovable relative to the central axis of said body for steering thetorpedo body; and support means between said body and said shroud means.

2. A torpedo according to claim 1, wherein fourcontrol surfaces areequidistantly spaced along said trailing edge.

3. In a torpedo having an elongated body with a tapered tail endcomprising: annular shroud means encircling the tail end in uniformspacedrelationship, said shroud means having an outside diameter notgreater than the outside diameter of the elongated body; support meansbetween said body and said shroud means; means for tiltingly mountingsaid shroud means to said body; said shroud means being angularlymovable relative to the central axis of said body for steering thetorpedo.

4. In a torpedo having an elongated body with a tapered tail endcomprising: shroud means having an inner and an outer ringconcentrically disposed, said outer ring encircling the tail end of thebody in uniform spaced relationship and having an outside diameter notgreater than the outside diameter of the body support means between saidinner and outer ring; universal mounting means interposed between andoperably engaging said inner ring and said body'for moving said shroudmeans angularly relative to the central axis of said body to steer saidtorpedo.

5. An actuating mechanism for a fixed volume hydraulic circuitcomprising, in combination: tubular sleeve means having a centralpassageway, one end of the sleeve means being connectable to thecircuit; a solenoid coil encircling said sleeve means; an end membersealingly connected to the coil adjacent to the other end of said sleevemeans; a magnetically responsive plunger disposed Within said passagewayand movable between said end member and approximately the axial centerof said coil in response to energization of said coil; a piston having apiston body within said passageway engaging said plunger; a springoperably positioned between the end of said sleeve means connected tosaid circuit and said piston, said spring biasing said piston againstsaid plunger to force said plunger normally against said end member;said body having a fluid conduit therethrough in fluid communicationwith the circuit when said solenoid coil is de-energized and saidconduit sealingly engaging said sleeve means for disabling said fluidcommunication when said coil is energized so that upon energization ofsaid coil a fixed volume liquid will be displaced when said plungermoves said piston.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said sleeve means includes aninner and an outer tubular sleeve concentrically arranged, said outersleeve having an axial length at least approximating that of said coiland being encircled by said coil, said inner sleeve projecting ap'proximately halfway into said passageway, said piston being movablydisposed within said inner sleeve while said plunger having an outsidediameter greater than the inside diameter of said inner sleeve ismovably positioned within said outer sleeve.

7. A device according to claim 6,-wherein said piston body has aT-shaped annular conduit with the longer portion of said conduit beingsubstantially parallel to said passageway.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BENJAMIN A.BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. SAMUEL FEINBERG, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,162,162 December 22, 1964 Halley H. Hamlin et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 6, line 13, after "body" insert a semicolon.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of May 1965.

(SEAL) Allest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER 4 EDWARD J. BRENNER Alu-sting Officer Commissioner ofPatents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3.162, 162 December 22, 1964 Halley H. Hamlin et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 6, line 13 after "body" insert a semicolon.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of May 1965.

(SEAL) A nest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER 7 E EDWARD J. BRENNER Altesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. IN A TORPEDO HAVING AN ELONGATED BODY WITH A TAPERED TAIL ENDCOMPRISING: ANNULAR SHROUD MEANS ENCIRCLING THE TAIL END IN UNIFORMSPACED RELATIONSHIP, SAID SHROUD MEANS HAVING AN OUTSIDE DIAMETER NOTGREATER THAN THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF THE ELONGATED BODY, SAID SHROUDMEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF STEERING CONTROL SURFACES MOVABLY MOUNTEDALONG THE TRAILING EDGE OF SAID ANNULAR